Suzuki Splash 1.2 SZ3 5dr Car Review - March 2012

The 1.2 litre four cylinder engine develops 93bhp at 6000rpm and 87 lb-ft of torque at 4800rpm which is enough to entertain. Faster cruising speeds raise the wind and road noise levels but not to an unreasonable degree. A 0-62 mph time of 12 seconds and a top speed of 109mph are hardly headline figures but the Splash handles with aplomb through corners despite a little body roll.

The car’s small dimensions make it easy to manoeuvre around town although the ride can feel a little firm at low speeds. Put your foot down when the road opens up and the Splash grips surprisingly well while the engine remains smooth if perhaps a touch vocal under hard acceleration.

The front seats are height adjustable and the steering wheel can be tilted so getting a comfortable driving position shouldn’t be a problem.

The Suzuki Splash 1.2 SZ3 5dr is a nice looking little car and whilst not as stylish as some of its rivals, it certainly looks as playful as it handles. Inside there is a decent amount of kit including height adjustable front seats, electric front windows and door mirrors, CD, air-conditioning, immobiliser and central locking all as standard.

The dash is generally well laid out with easy to find dials and buttons and there is a useful amount of storage space but the hard-to-read rev counter on top of the dash seems like an after thought. The materials used around the cabin are hard and feel cheap but they are at least textured which gives them a smart appearance. Overall though, it all feels well put together.

Metallic paint is a £399 option.

The cabin is adequately spacious for four people with plenty of headroom in both the front and rear thanks to the high roofline. The boot is quite small but the split/folding rear seats can be lowered to increase the space from 178 litres to 573 litres.

Suzuki has a good reputation for reliability and the car comes with a three year 60,000 mile warranty.

The Splash comes with front and side driver/passenger airbags as well as ABS, anti-lock brakes plus ISOFIX child-seat mountings.

The Suzuki Splash 1.2 SZ3 5dr is not the cheapest in this class and at £9,995 there are more appealing and generously equipped alternatives but it’s surprisingly good to drive and its running costs are low. You should get 55.4mpg on the combined cycle and CO2 emissions of 119g/km mean that the Splash falls under VED band C.